11. Finn
Chapter 11
Finn
It was late September when Casey and I rode the train together as we made our way toward New York City. We had to get ready for the high fashion season with fall and winter clothes.
I could’ve had one of Father’s drivers take me, but Casey liked the train and wanted me to go with him to keep him company. Hell, I didn’t mind the train so much, either.
There was a photo shoot with a renowned French photographer, Marc Laurent, who could make our careers skyrocket. While Casey was excited, I was apprehensive. Marc Laurent had a… reputation beyond his photography skills, and not in a good way.
Regardless, this shoot was important. It allowed us to showcase our physical appearance, posing abilities, and personalities, to expand our portfolios and get more exposure. I had a good portfolio, but Angela, the agent Casey and I shared, wanted it expanded further. She was confident that we were good enough to boost our careers.
I’d only been modeling for about a year, right out of college, and I loved it, working runway shows and the attention it gave me. It was the exhibitionist nature inside me. I loved all eyes on me, especially Father’s when I was fooling around with Ryder, knowing he was turned on as much as I was. The hours could be grueling, and you starved a lot at this job, but those things didn’t bother me. The idea that people looked at me and saw me as some beautiful object was enough to deal with the negatives of the job.
I’d met Casey Barnaby on the job, and because he also lived in Washington, DC, and had the same agent, we became friends, I guess. It wasn’t the kind of friendship one would expect. Making close connections in modeling wasn’t easy with our busy schedules and fierce competition. In fact, competition was constantly encouraged.
All in all, I didn’t really have any true friends. It was just as well because it protected my relationship with my stepfather.
Casey sat by the window as the world blurred by, leaning against me and resting his head on my shoulder as he scrolled through his phone. I often wondered if he was attracted to me, but he’d never made any move to tell me, which was fine. I’d almost asked Casey to be our third, but I didn’t like him enough. Ryder had been the perfect choice.
Ryder…
I smiled at the thought of him and his pretty hazel eyes, which periodically turned shy. He was so innocent, yet eager to learn about his sexuality. Fucking adorable. He was also so sweet, kind, and polite. I didn’t think he had a mean bone in his body. I hoped DC wouldn’t change that or eat him alive. This city could make or break you if you didn’t grow up here. It wasn’t made for the weak.
Why had Ryder moved here? Why change your life so drastically that didn’t involve a major career change? He chose to move here for reasons unknown. Father believed something happened to Ryder back in his hometown, and he ran, but he had no idea what exactly.
“Angela is trying to set up a runway show with Gucci at the end of the year for me,” Casey said, interrupting my thoughts.
“Nice. I hope you get it. She’s already set up that show for me. We’ll get to work together again.”
“Oh…” He sounded disappointed. Jealous, even.
Working for Gucci was a fucking big deal. Angela got me the job easily because I was a professional and never complained or said no. The modeling industry only wants human hangers for clothes who keep their mouths shut. We were only objects to them—a commodity. It didn’t bother me in the slightest. Father loved me, and that was enough.
I could understand Casey’s jealousy, though. Everything came easy for me, growing up wealthy. Losing Mom was a blow in my life, but loving Knox helped with that. We both got through the grief together. At first, I had no intention of having sexual relations with my mother’s husband, but he was hard to resist the closer we grew.
Casey was raised by a single mom who struggled to make ends meet. The money he earned helped her, which was cool for him to do and showed an empathetic side I rarely got to see.
Casey sat up, leaned against the window, and stretched his long legs over mine. I inwardly rolled my eyes, but I didn’t shove him off.
His dark brown hair was freshly cropped with long wavy bangs shoved away from his face, and he had high cheekbones and thick brows. His brown eyes were nearly as dark as Father’s. Casey Barnaby was fucking gorgeous, so it was no wonder he was a model.
Neither of us set out to be a model. Most men were discovered and recruited by agents or scouts.
I’d been at a high-end coffee shop in Georgetown when I was approached last year, right after I graduated from Georgetown University. Casey had been approached while on a weekend vacation with his mom at Virginia Beach.
“I’m so excited to be photographed by Marc fucking Laurent,” he said. “Man, if this doesn’t get me some big jobs, nothing will.”
“I hope so, Case,” I said, but I wasn’t looking forward to it, even if it would help us. Model photographers were a different breed. Some were complete professionals. Others were… fucking creepy as hell, just like Marc Laurent. Too many of them. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’d been propositioned or inappropriately touched. It was the nature of the business. There was no saying ‘ no ’ to him if you didn’t want your career completely derailed or destroyed.
Models like Casey depended on their income to make ends meet, so they would do anything to protect their careers. So far, I’d put up with the negative aspects of the job because the pros outweighed the cons. I could afford to quit, but I didn’t want to. I enjoyed making my own money outside of family money and Knox’s income. It made me feel useful.
Casey settled back on my shoulder, folded his arms over his chest, and closed his eyes to doze for the last hour of the ride.
By lunchtime, we were rushed into the studio for the shoot, not having eaten yet. When the photographer took a look at both of us, he decided we needed a shoot together—our agent’s request be damned—after scheduling us for separate shoots.
“Come, come. Inside, quickly now,” Mr. Laurent said in his thick French accent. “I am on a tight schedule.”
I didn’t bother to mention he was saving time by shooting us together.
As we walked inside the studio, Casey leaned close to me. “Don’t blow this for me, Finn. Do everything he says, even if it’s… uncomfortable. I need this photo shoot,” he whispered. His words proved he was completely aware of the photographer’s reputation. It wasn’t talked about openly, but some of the models like to talk among themselves.
His words also proved Casey and I would never be true friends. Career would always take precedence over friendship.
As Mr. Laurent double-checked his camera equipment and lighting, which had already been set up, he waved at us as we stood there.
“Come now. Clothes completely off.”
I sighed. Well, that didn’t take him long. There was no disclaimer in my contract stating I wouldn’t shoot nude images, which I did intentionally, so I wouldn’t close any doors to my career. As long as no one touched me inappropriately, I was okay with it.
It wouldn’t be my first nude shoot. Some liked to take naked pictures of us, claiming it was to get comfortable in our own skin while posing, which I highly doubted, but what did I know? I wasn’t a professional photographer.
Casey narrowed his eyes at me, daring me to contradict Mr. Laurent, but I said nothing as we stripped out of our clothes.
“Yes, professional models who do not complain! Thank god!” our photographer said. “Your agent guaranteed me complete cooperation.”
We stood in front of the camera, sitting on a tripod, waiting for his instructions as he adjusted the lens.
“Perfect. You two will be stunning together. I want sensuality. Show potential clients that you will do anything for the camera. That you are more than a smiling face.”
Our photographer stepped away from his camera and walked toward us. He grabbed me and turned my body so that three-fourths were visible to the camera. He shifted my right leg and bent it a little as I leaned my left leg behind me to keep me steady.
Mr. Laurent made more adjustments to my body, making sure to run a hand over my ass or come too close to my sac. I kept my mouth shut, mostly for Casey, but this wasn’t enough to push me over the edge to quit.
Next, he adjusted Casey to where my bent leg was between his, riding my thigh, and pressed his upper body against mine.
“Clay. You two beauties are clay. Parfait !”
He rushed behind his camera and took several shots. “Let me see your sensuality… pouty lips, yes? Gaze at each other. Show us love and sexuality.”
My brain clicked off to being naked and touching Casey, and I turned on my professionalism, focusing on the poses and facial expressions.
After an hour of photographing us nude, we were allowed a ten-minute break to get dressed and drink some water. People were on hand, selecting our clothes to model, fixing our hair, and touching up our makeup.
I was starving, not having eaten since last night, but it was all part of the job.
Mr. Laurent continued to photograph Casey and me together for another couple of hours before we did our sessions separately.
By the time we wrapped up, it was eight at night, and I hadn’t eaten in twenty-four hours. The hunger pangs were painful.
“We have an hour before we have to catch the train back. Want to grab something to eat?” Casey asked.
“Sure.”
After thanking Marc Laurent for his time, we left and walked around until we found a deli to grab some sandwiches.
We both ordered Reuben sandwiches and devoured them in minutes, starving for every fucking crumb.
“Thanks for today and not bitching about the nudity,” Casey said, taking a bite of his dill pickle.
“Whatever. There was no need to be a dick about it, either. This wasn’t my first nude shoot.”
Instead of looking apologetic, Casey smirked. “I want to be sorry, but that shoot was pretty hot.”
I said nothing. For me, it was just a job—a job I loved, but it was still only work. I was in no way turned on by being that close to Casey. Only two men really did it for me sexually. And that right there reminded me I chose correctly.
He leaned forward, combing his dark hair back with long, manicured fingers. “Say, do you want to hang out next weekend? Grab some dinner?”
“I—”
Before I could finish, Casey raised his hand. “Look, modeling is fucking lonely. I’m not asking for marriage or anything, but I could use a fuck. How about it?”
“Sorry, but I’m seeing someone.”
“I’ve never seen you with anyone.”
“Remember at my birthday party when you met Ryder? We’re new, but… I really like him and don’t want to mess this up.”
It wasn’t a complete lie, and it allowed me to turn down Casey without offending him.
He shrugged. “Suit yourself, but if you two break up, you know where to find me. We could have some fun, Finn.”
I feigned a smirk. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
It was after midnight when I finally walked in my front door. I headed upstairs to my room and took a quick shower in my ensuite. Not bothering to get dressed, I headed over to Father’s bedroom, finding him reading a book and waiting for me. He usually worked most nights, but I was glad he came home early just for me.
He gave me a bright smile, set his book aside, and raised his arm for me to crawl into.
“How was the shoot?”
“It was fine, I guess. It will get me a lot of notice, and that’s the point. Casey hit on me, too.”
I didn’t bother to tell Knox about the nude shoot. He didn’t need to know the details, since I knew he would risk everything to stop any inappropriate behavior toward me. It wasn’t necessary.
“Oh, and did you say yes?”
I playfully smacked his stomach. “You know I didn’t. You’re the only one I love, Father, and ever will.”
He chuckled and pulled me closer before kissing the top of my head. “And you know I will always love you, my precious boy.”
“And what will you call us if you fall in love with Ryder, too?”
“I enjoy Ryder, and I’m attracted to him, but I think we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves in terms of love. That’s not in the cards.”
“Of course it’s in the cards. We wouldn’t have talked about the chance of it happening were it not.”
“True.”
“You’ve already called him ‘ Sweet Boy .’
“I have, but only sexually. How does that make you feel?”
I craned my head to look up at him, still tucked into his side as he dragged gentle fingers along my upper back. “You mean, does it make me feel jealous?”
Father nodded.
“Not at all, which kind of surprises me, despite this being my idea. Is it weird that I like the three of us snuggled together at night… after the sex?”
He sighed and pulled me closer. “No, I feel the same. That also surprises me. There’s something about Ryder I can’t quite put my finger on.”
“His eagerness despite his shyness and inexperience? That he just oozes sexiness without even trying? That he doesn’t have a pretentious bone in his body?”
He laughed, shaking us in the bed. “Actually, yes. I guess that’s it.”
“I know we talked about this just being sexual, but I think you and I should spend some time with Ryder alone… get to know him. Not to have sex,” I quickly added. “I would like us to know more about him. You can take him somewhere to talk. Then I want to take him shopping.”
“So you’re thinking more long-term already. It’s just been over three weeks, baby.”
“I understand that, but I think it’s important that we don’t treat him like meat, either. For now, he’s a part of us.”
“Then we’ll get to know him.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, pulling a tired smile from me. “You look sleepy.”
“I’m very sleepy. It’s been a long day.”
I crawled under his soft blankets, feeling the comfort of his skin against mine, putting my long and tedious day at ease. Coming home to Knox and his love made everything worth it.